In the Name of Order

Chapter 16: Salvation

"Wait here and drop all devices on the front seat. They'll be detected at the entrance if you don't."

The driver slams the door shut and exits the vehicle, leaving the rest of us confused about our whereabouts.

Mother is the only one to stretch out her hands and drop two phones onto the front seat. I don't think the rest of us brought anything.

I push down on the door handle of the car, causing the car to make a beeping sound as a signal that the doors are open. The driver is either careless or not worried about their security. Mathea looks at me worriedly as I step outside the car. My mother sighs, but she makes no motion to stop me and instead climbs out the vehicle from the other side of the car.

I look at my surroundings; grey. We're in a large area with grey pillars and a grey roof that shelters black vehicles scattered around the area. I take my chances and walk forward but stop once I step in something I hope is water. The walls are dirty and the grounds are clearly uncared for. We could be in some abandoned underground parking, and I begin to wonder how far we are from the main city.

"Mathea—"

"Already on it, Sis."

"There could be cameras around, and you're not necessarily being discreet." I stare at my sister who is, wide-eyed, analysing everything in every direction possible.

"There could be microphones around, and you're talking about me not being discreet." Mathea emphasizes the last word and attempts to mimic my voice.

We hear the patter of footsteps, and they are made louder by the echoes. There are two figures heading our way; the driver that brought us here and an elderly lady. The lady walks with her head held high, showing confidence, and faster than I'd think she would be able to. Kane is already next to me, and it only takes a few footsteps for my mother and Mathea to join us. We stand in a row, waiting as the figures approach us.

"Seven visible cameras, fourteen cars including the one we came in. I can write down their number plates later," Mathea continues to state some details she can see before the figures reach us, "The old lady is a doctor, and considering the picture she just shoved back into her pocket, she might have a son. Three men are hiding behind the pillars to our left. There's a blueprint hanging out of one of their pockets. I'll redraw it later. It doesn't show the entire layout of this place though."

The driver seems unbothered to find that we've left the vehicle. He simply nods in our direction before entering the car and driving away.

"My name is Eve," the doctor smiles at us as she speaks. Her voice is soft. Luckily, she speaks slowly, so I have time to make out what she is saying.

"I'm honoured to meet you, Ms Bare." Eve then stretches out her hand for me to shake. "I've researched about your condition, and I am certain the purification process will go smoothly. Please, follow me."

Eve walks quickly ahead of us, and we follow her into a narrow path that looks as if it has a door at the end of it.

"Your companions refuse to be purified?"

My heart begins to race. Mathea and Kane cannot take the cure. I don't even want to know the effects it will have on Thea, and we will have no one to help pay the Gifted Program for my defection if she does take the cure.

And Kane; he needs his gift. His life is planned around what it can do for him, and I doubt Old Otis will keep Kane around if Kane can't gain him money. Kane is too old to go back to an orphanage. He'd have to get a job, and that's unlikely unless someone can pay for him to finish this year's Studies classes.